National wildfire response exercise Ifestos held near Kapedes

On Tuesday, authorities conducted a large-scale forest fire response drill named Ifestos near the village of Kapedes in the Nicosia district. The exercise simulated a major wildfire outbreak southeast of the village threatening the Machairas national park and local residential areas. Participating agencies included the forestry department, fire brigade, police, civil defence, national guard, joint search and rescue coordination centre, and British bases personnel. Ground assets such as fire engines, water tankers, and ambulances were deployed alongside firefighting aircraft. Forestry department head Savvas Iezekiel highlighted the importance of interagency cooperation and volunteer support in mitigating growing forest fire threats. Officials confirmed the event was a planned preparedness activity to test the national response framework and improve operational readiness. The drill occurred between 11.00am and 12.00pm, with authorities advising the public not to be concerned.